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Police investigate Padbury shooting

Friends sought assistance at the BP service station in Padbury but were turned away

Police believe up to eight people were involved in an incident in Perth's north in which a 21-year-old man was shot.

The man underwent surgery this morning after being shot in the stomach during an argument in the Perth suburb of Padbury last night.

Police say the shooting occurred when two groups of people confronted each other in a carpark on Marmion Avenue.

Inspector Jeff Ellis says the incident happened just after 11:00 pm.

"It would appear from our initial inquiries that there was some sort of fight between two groups of people and during that incident someone has pulled out a shotgun and shot the victim in the stomach," he said.

Police say friends of the victim sought help for him at a nearby BP service station but were turned away.

The victim was taken to the Joondalup Health Campus by a friend who fled before police arrived.

Inspector Ellis described the incident as disturbing.

"Very concerning that someone would use a shotgun in such a circumstance. I mean using lethal force when it's just a minor disturbance is very disturbing to us," he said.

Police believe the two parties may have known each other.

They have spoken to several witnesses and are still hunting the gunman.